Ondo state is the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria. Ondo state produces about 80,000 tons of cocoa annually.
Nigeria produces about 300,000 tons of cocoa annually. Other states that produce cocoa in large quantity are Ogun, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti etc.
Nigeria is one of the largest producers of cocoa in the world. Nigeria is the 4th largest producer of cocoa in the world. The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria expects cocoa production to hit 500,000 tons in 2022, according to Nairametrics.
Largest Cocoa Producing States in Nigeria
Below are the largest cocoa producing states in Nigeria:
Ondo State
Ondo state is the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria. Ondo state produces about 80,000 tonnes of cocoa every year.
Ondo state is in the humid rain forest belt of Nigeria which favours the growing of cocoa. The major cocoa producing towns in Ondo state are Ondo, Ile-oluji, Idanre, Akure, Ogbese, Odigbo and Owo etc.
There are a lot of cocoa processing companies in Ondo state due to the large number of cocoa farmers in the state.
Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom is one of the largest cocoa producing states in Nigeria. Akwa Ibom is also in the humid rain forest belt of Nigeria. This makes it possible for farmers to grow cocoa in large number in the state.
Cocoa is grown widely in about 21 local government areas of Akwa Ibom state.
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in the south western part of Nigeria. Ogun state is one of the largest cocoa producing states in Nigeria. Ogun state produces about 40,000 tons of cocoa every year.
The major cocoa growing areas in Ogun state include Odeda, Abeokuta, Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu Ode, Owode and Ifo etc.
Edo State
Edo state is also one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria. Cocoa is widely grown in the southern part of Edo state; this is due to the high level of rainfall in this area.
Cocoa is usually grown with oil palm and rubber in Edo state. The cocoa produced in Edo State is of a high value.
Osun State
Osun state produces a lot of cocoa. It is unarguably one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria. Osun state produces about 40,000 tons of cocoa annually.
The major cocoa producing towns in Osun state are Ife, Ilesha, Ede, Osogbo, Iwo, Modakeke, Ode Omu and Gbongan etc
Ekiti State
Ekiti state is also one of the largest cocoa producing states in Nigeria. Cocoa is mainly grown in Emure Ekiti, Ikere Ekiti, Igbara Odo Ekiti, Ijan Ekiti and Ado Ekiti.
Ekiti state is in the south western part of Nigeria which makes it favourable for the growing of cocoa.
Cross Rivers
Cross Rivers is also one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria. Cross Rivers is in the extreme southern part of Nigeria.
Cocoa is grown in almost all parts of the northern part of the state. Cocoa farming is a venture that is common in Cross Rivers state.
Other large cocoa producing states in Nigeria are Abia, Enugu and Oyo.
References
https://nigerianinfopedia.com.ng/cocoa-producing-states-in-nigeria/
Read our latest post on how long does it take to grow cocoa
God bless Ondo-State Nigeria.